Dowsett will have to be incredibly careful to cling on to his mobile device and aim his typing finger carefully as the race hits the rough cobbled roads for which is it famed – despite hoping that team-mate Jasha Sutterlin had “packed down a smooth path” during his recon of the race as he is “80kg of German tattooed muscle”.

2 hours in, haven’t eaten or drunk a thing probably, been on edge the whole time. Getting some flapjacks down me asap. #parisroubaix

And anyway… UCI road race regulation 2.2.024 stipulates that you’re not supposed to use a mobile communication device during a race other than an approved race radio. Luca Paolini was famously spotted using a mobile during the 2014 Tour de France, and was fined 50CHF (£34).

Paris-Roubaix is generally perceived as the biggest one-day race on the calendar. It takes place over 257 kilometres, incorporating 29 cobbled sectors that account for around 55km of the route. You can follow the entire 2017 Paris-Roubaix with our live text updates.

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